Decent calipers?

[Cliff Holmes]

It seems I'm getting sucked into the vortex and I'm not even a turner ...

My wife has an old, decrepit caliper that was my dad's. I was thinking of getting her some new ones (hey, once you've spend $3500 on a new lathe, does it really hurt anymore?). Rockler has this set on sale: http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=22201&tagem=rv

Are these any good? All joking aside, I don't think gold-plated calipers are needed.

[JerHall]

with this set. In my experience the quick release is always moving on me, and so I never retain confidence in transferring a measurement. The little ruler is useful, but the slide calipers are two small to be generally useful IMHO, The following looks like a quality solution using digital technology, tho I haven't tried them, but I am going to ask Santa for a set.
http://www.woodturnerscatalog.com/store/Measuring___Calipers___Digital_Inside_Outside_Cali pers___digital_io?Args=
Getting the smaller one might be a quality and useful gift. You also can't go wrong with a General Tools calipers and ruler of the style shown in your link, nearly always available at a hardware store. See:
http://www.amazon.com/General-Tools-721-Vernier-Caliper/dp/B00004T7UE/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1261064215&sr=1-9
and http://www.amazon.com/General-Tools-300-Precision-Stainless/dp/B00004T7SW/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1261064284&sr=1-3

I would put your money into one or more of the above.

Hope this helps. I would be interested in others opinions.

[Mike Minto]

cliff, i use a set of 'kelton' calipers - interesting design, have been useful. if you get one, however, i'd advise getting the larger of the two they offer (i have the smaller one).

[Joshua Dinerstein]

I bought the HF set that is much the same thing.

It can be found here:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=94447

I got mine over the last several years, and within the last week, with coupons for $7.99 for each set. No quick release which is a good thing in my mind. These are quite stable and solid.

I have 3 or 4 or maybe even 5 of these sets now. Mostly looking for the outside spring and vernier calipers, but the depth gauge and rulers have come in handy at times. The other 2 calipers are pretty useless for me and the kind of turning I do. Anyway I have had great luck with them and for the price hey it is hard to go wrong.

I actually just bought the most recent 2 packs and then I got some Starrett and Union calipers of of the bay as a lot. So now I have them coming out of my ears.

Joshua